Capture The Flag (CTF) Strategy Guide

1. Overview

This section describes the basic operation of Zdaemon's CTF mode. Regardless of
an individual's style or strategy, this is how the software works. The object
of the game is to run to your opponent's base and take their flag. You must
then run back to your own base with the flag. When you reach your own flag at
your base, you score a point for your team.

When you join the server, notice which side has the fewest players, then join
that team. The way you do that is from the player setup menu. Hit Escape,
scroll down to Player Setup, scroll down to Team. Hit Enter
until you have selected either the blue or the red team.

2. CTF Challenges

As you try to race toward the opposing team's base, you will encounter the opposing
team's players as they rush toward your base. You can either attempt to run past them,
but usually a firefight breaks out and you may be either killed or weakened.

The opposing team may capture your flag while you are away from your base. If this
happens, you will not score a point until your flag is returned to your base. You
will continue to carry the opposing team's flag either until you are killed or
until you bring their flag to your base while your own flag is there.

Even if you capture the enemy flag, you may be killed before you can return to your
own base. If you are killed while carrying the opposing team's flag, one of three
things will happen:

Someone else on your team can pick up the flag you dropped.

The opposing team can pick up the flag you dropped. If that happens, the opposing team's flag is immediately returned to their base.

Nobody gets to the dropped flag within 15 seconds. If that happens, the flag is returned to its original base.

3. Strategy

This section describes strategies that have been tested in real CTF games. This
section is strictly based on the author's opinion and might not be suitable for
everyone.

In CTF, you have two equally important primary objectives:

Take the opposing teams flag, bring it to your base and score a point.

Prevent the opposing team from taking your flag to their base and scoring a point.

In CTF, the "rules of engagement" are different from deathmatch. It is not about frags
at all. It's about teamwork and strategy. You should not concentrate on killing your
enemy. The team must operate as one unit. Although communication between teammates
is possible and might even be helpful, it should not be necessary. A good CTF player
will know what to do without being told. A good CTF player will spring into action
the moment he spawns by immediately analyzing the current situation and instantly
executing a prearranged plan.

Suicide can be used to your advantage. While it may cost you experience points (if you
happen to care about that), it can get you back to your base instantly. You can
intentionally kill yourself with a rocket or jump into lava, which will cause you
to respawn back at your base. Obviously this won't help you if you're the one
carrying the flag!

Good defensive work is essential, but all of the defense in the world will not score
points for your team. The most effective approach is to apply constant, unrelenting
attacks on the opposing team. The opposing team cannot execute an effective attack
if they are too busy defending their base. The more aggressively your team attacks,
the less resources they will have available to use against you.

Stay out of the flag carrier's way! When you see your teammate running with the opposing
team's flag, get out of his way! There is nothing more frustrating than running into one
of your teammates and getting killed because your teammate wouldn't get out of the way.
You should step aside and be prepared to defend your team's flag runner as soon as he
passes. You can be sure that if your teammate has the opposing team's flag, the rest
of the opposing team will not be far behind.

Learn the map's layout and utilize its features. Some maps have doors, lifts and other
tricks. Some of them can be used offensively as shortcuts, or defensively as obstacles
against an enemy attack.

The moment you spawn, race toward the opposing team's base as fast as you can. Do not
waste a lot of time gathering up weapons. Grab the nearest weapon and may be one heavy
weapon. Grab any armor or extra health. You'll need that to help you survive the trip
to the enemy base and back.

Try to avoid enemy contact on your way to the opposing team's base. You will almost
certainly encounter a battle at the opposing team's base. Try to run straight toward
the flag, grab it, and make a quick getaway.

If the base is heavily defended, don't stand and fight. Find the quickest exit and
make lots of turns if possible. This will prevent any rockets fired from the base
defenders from hitting you. It is pointless to stand and fight at the enemy base
if you have their flag. Every enemy you kill will respawn right back at their
own base anyway. You physically can't eliminate all of them.

If someone else on your team grabs the flag while you are near the enemy base,
you should stay close and try to defend the flag carrier. Try to block the
passage using yourself as a shield, while firing constantly in the direction
of the oncoming enemy. You're not trying to kill any one enemy, but rather
slow down any enemy that might be in pursuit of your team's flag carrier.
You do not need to stop them. You need to slow them down and weaken them.
If they make it to your base, hopefully there will be someone there already
to deal with the weakened enemy. It's easier for the base defenders to stop
an enemy advance if you have already weakened them. Remember, as your teammates
die they will respawn near your own base. Let them finish off the enemy
as they approach.

If the opposing team has captured your flag, the top priority is to get
your flag back. If the enemy flag has not been taken, and you are close
to the enemy base, it might be better to attempt to take the opposing
team's flag. Even if they already have your flag, they cannot score
unless they retrieve their flag from you. This buys time for your
team too attack the opposing team's base and attempt to get your
flag back.

If you get back to your base with the opposing team's flag but your own flag has
been taken, you must hide! Gather up as much health and armor as possible.
Avoid any firefight if possible. Let your team mates deal with enemy attacks
on your base. Wait for your flag to be returned, then immediately run to your
flag.

It's not always a good idea to recover your team's flag from a downed opponent.
If you frag an opponent in a way that leaves your team's flag hidden, maybe leave
it there, especially if there are lots of opposing players near your home base
waiting to pick up your team's flag again. Of course, if your team has the
opposing team's flag and is waiting for your team's flag to be returned,
then return it ASAP.

If you respawn in your base and one of your teammates is hiding there with the
opposing team's flag, don't stay at your base to defend him. Some people will
disagree with this, but consider these facts:

If your flag is in the hands of the enemy, and the enemy is already at their base, they will score a point the moment their flag is retrieved.

If you are able to retrieve your flag without dropping the opposing team's flag, your team will score a point almost instantly.

You have more to lose if you attempt to defend your teammate. Eventually
he will be killed. If your flag is not at your base when that happens,
the opposing team will very likely score a point. You have a better
chance of preventing them from scoring if you can get your flag back
than you would if you stay to defend your base.

If you respawn in your base and you see an enemy attack while one of your
teammates there with the opposing team's flag , then you should stay and
fight off the enemy. Get right in their path and use your body to block
them. Keep in mind that if you get killed you will respawn right near
your base, so you'll have a chance to finish them off.

Before you join a server, check the balance of the teams and join the one
that needs players. For example: a lot of games start off 3 on 3, but
end 6 on 3.

4. FAQ

How do I drop the flag once I have it?
You can't. Once you have the opposing team's flag, you will continue to carry it until you are killed or until you reach your base while your flag is at it's base. If you return to your base and your flag is not there, you will continue to carry the opposing team's flag.

I dropped the flag in lava or some other place where I can't get to it. How can I get the flag back?
You can't (unless you can survive the lava). A dropped flag returns automatically to its base after 15 seconds unless someone from either team picks it up.